THE trial of Rosmah Mansor, who is accused of corruption, was vacated for the third time in two weeks after the High Court was told that she remained flagged as a close contact of a Covid-19 positive person.

Rosmah’s lead counsel Jagjit Singh informed Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan that his client’s status remained unchanged from last week and apologised for compelling the court to yet again delay proceedings.

Last Wednesday, the wife of former prime minister Najib Razak was barred from entering the court premises after her MySejahtera status showed she was a close contact of a Covid-19 patient. The hearing was postponed to Friday, when it was once again delayed when her status stayed orange.

Senior deputy public prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram today reiterated his call for hybrid proceedings to ensure the continuity of the trial.

Sri Ram said he could Rosmah giving evidence from her home, with the presence of a couple of deputy prosecutors, counsel and court officers. 

However, Jagjit said Rosmah would be present for the next hearing, slated for December 23, and told the court he preferred the hearing be held physically where all parties are present. 

Justice Zaini responded that while he to preferred to have the trial continue in court, they could not continue adjourning trial dates. 

Jagjit: My instruction is to maintain the same as per your view made last week, which is to have the trial in court. 

Zaini: Yes. I would like that as well but we have adjourned three days of trial because of her (Rosmah’s) status. We cannot carry on like this. 

Jagjit: I agree with you that we have adjourned three days but we have fixed additional dates in January. 

Zaini: Yes, we have. But what if her status remains unchanged at the next date? 

Jagjit: I don’t want to speculate on what happens in the future my lordship. I’m just an ordinary and honest lawyer doing my job. 

Zaini said he would take into consideration Sri Ram’s request and that he would need to make provisions for the hybrid hearing to be held if Rosmah’s MySejahtera status remains anything but blue. 

Zaini: I have to make provisions because we cannot carry on like this. The trial has to come to an end eventually. 

Jagjit: We are towards the end. We have two more witnesses. 

Zaini: But the light at the end of tunnel is getting dimmer and dimmer. 

Jagjit: With respect, we are at the end of trial. I believe my learned friend has one day of cross (-examination) with my client. 

Zaini: Well, I will take into consideration Sri Ram’s suggestion and will look into the relevant provisions (for a hybrid hearing). If it can be done, I will inform all parties in advance. That is on the assumption the accused’s status remains anything but blue. On the assumption that her status reverts to blue, then everything is fine. 

Zaini proceeded to vacate today’s hearing. 

The trial is expected to resume on December 23 and 24, with Rosmah due to be cross-examined by Sri Ram. 

Earlier at the start of the defence, the court was informed that there would be two more witnesses besides Rosmah, which include former Prime Minister’s Office officer Azizah Sheikh Abod and the accused’s husband Najib Razak.

Rosmah, 70, is facing a charge of soliciting RM187.5 million and two charges of receiving bribes totalling RM6.5 million from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin through her former assistant Rizal Mansor, as a reward for assisting Jepak Holdings to secure the RM1.25 billion project to equip 369 schools in rural Sarawak with solar hybrid power. – December 13, 2021.